In my mother's hometown of Hoa Dong

Việt Nam•04/03/2024

Established over 400 years ago, closely associated with the land reclamation efforts of Lord Luong Van Chanh, Hoa Dong commune (Tay Hoa district) is a fertile land located in the southwest of the Tuy Hoa plain. Every inch of this peaceful countryside is steeped in the sweat, tears, and blood of heroic martyrs, linked to the event of the mother of Hoa Dong blocking enemy tanks.

Arriving in this rural area in the early days of the new spring of the Year of the Dragon, we were amazed by the changes and improvements in many aspects of our motherland, Hoa Dong. The central area of the commune is no different from a town. The rice fields are turning green, promising a bountiful harvest. The pink lotus fields stretch far and wide, exuding a fragrant aroma…

Glorious revolutionary tradition

Before 1945, when the revolutionary movement in Tuy Hoa was still in its throes, the first seeds of revolution emerged in Hoa Dong, and they continued to grow, eventually leading the local people to successfully carry out the August Revolution, seizing power for the people.

During the nine years of resistance against the French colonial invasion (1945-1954), Hoa Dong served as the western corridor of the province, organizing hundreds of battles to repel enemy attacks and providing significant manpower and resources to the Central Highlands and northern Khanh Hoa battlefields.

During the war against the US, Hoa Dong was a strategically important area of Tuy Hoa district, constantly subjected to enemy raids, and a fierce battleground between our forces and the enemy. In that intense struggle, alongside armed resistance and military mobilization, the political struggle of the people of Hoa Dong flourished, reaching its peak in Central Vietnam. This was exemplified by the courageous Hoa Dong mothers who stood defiantly in the rice fields, blocking enemy tanks that were ravaging and trampling their homeland, thus maintaining the movement and the village's strategic base area.

Towards the end of the war, the army and people of Hoa Dong made a significant contribution to the ambush of enemy troops retreating from the Central Highlands to the Tuy Hoa plain, contributing to the historic victory on Highway 5.

Throughout the two wars of resistance, more than 500 outstanding young men from Hoa Dong enlisted in the army and bravely sacrificed their lives. Many families lost their last remaining relatives. Many mothers sacrificed their last son, and even their only son, for the war.

After the liberation of their homeland and country, singing songs of triumph, the Party Committee and people of Hoa Dong united in their efforts to rebuild their homeland, creating great changes in all fields.

Hoa Dong New Rural Area today. Photo: PHAM THUY

Positive changes

Visiting Hoa Dong these days, alongside the wide roads leading to the hamlets are fields of lush green rice paddies and fragrant pink lotus ponds. The extensive irrigation canal system has been reinforced… This scene partly demonstrates the socio -economic picture of a rural area on the path to prosperity.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Dong commune, revolutionary tradition is an invaluable asset, a great source of encouragement and motivation, and also places demands on the Party Committee, government, and people of the locality to find ways to promote that tradition in economic and cultural development, and to carry out the work of showing gratitude in a worthy manner.

Accordingly, the Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune have focused on decisive leadership, direction, and management; seriously and promptly implementing the directives of the District People's Committee and the resolutions of the Party Committee and People's Council of the commune. With the involvement of the entire political system and the consensus of all strata of the people, the socio-economic situation of Hoa Dong continues to develop, and national defense and security are maintained stably.

The national target program for building new rural areas has been implemented synchronously, yielding practical results. Officials and civil servants have demonstrated a high sense of responsibility in performing their duties; providing timely advice and reports. In 2023, total social investment reached 42.5 billion VND, exceeding the plan by 11.84% and increasing by 16.21% compared to 2022.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh (80 years old) from Phu Dien Ngoai village observed: Hoa Dong today has made remarkable progress compared to the past. Infrastructure such as electricity, roads, schools, and health stations are now fully developed. Now, people no longer worry about having enough to eat and wear, but think about eating well, dressing well, and getting rich...

In particular, the commune has also improved its working methods, effectively implemented administrative reforms, and guided and encouraged organizations and individuals to submit administrative procedures online through the provincial public service portal at the commune's one-stop service center.

Hoa Dong is also a locality that has done well in mass mobilization work, maintaining the implementation of many new rural development models such as: lighting up rural roads; planting flowers along inter-village and inter-commune roads to create a green, clean, and beautiful environment; building and expanding model roads and model cultural houses. All 19 criteria for a new rural commune have been maintained. The total cultivated area reached 971 hectares.

The local traditional crafts continue to develop steadily. In particular, the Vinh Ba village's rattan and bamboo weaving craft maintains the production of products from rattan, bamboo, and plastic materials, as well as handicrafts, with products sold both within and outside the province, providing employment for over 200 workers.

In 2023, budget revenue reached over 3.1 billion VND, exceeding the district's projected target by 3.37% and achieving 100% of the commune's target, a 3.68% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Hoa Dong is focusing on promoting the application of information technology in administrative work, gradually moving towards e-government and digital government…

"The traditional education of remembering one's roots and showing gratitude to the younger generation has always been a priority for the Party committee, government, and mass organizations in the commune through practical actions such as: Regularly coordinating efforts to care for, visit, and encourage families of wounded soldiers, martyrs, and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers."

"In 2023, the commune submitted applications to higher authorities for support in constructing, repairing, and commissioning 5 houses for policy beneficiaries, achieving 100% of the target assigned by the district; and coordinated with the Fatherland Front and charitable organizations to support the construction of houses for 5 poor households, exceeding the target assigned by the district by 400%," said Dinh Ngoc Sum, Chairman of the Hoa Dong Commune People's Committee.

Leaving Hoa Dong, although some aspects of people's lives are still difficult, based on what we have seen and heard, we believe in the transformation and sustainable development of this land. With its revolutionary tradition and the spirit of daring to think and act for the benefit of the people, this place will become a prosperous and vibrant land.

Hoa Dong has overcome many difficulties and challenges on its path to finding a suitable direction. Today, the people of Hoa Dong have every right to be proud of the positive changes taking place in their homeland. These achievements are thanks to the efforts and dedication of the Party Committee, the government, and the people of Hoa Dong commune.

Chairman of the People 's Committee of Tay Hoa District, Tran Minh Tri

PHAM THUY

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